Charlton boss Alan Curbishley would be allowed to leave The Valley if he was approached to become Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as England boss, Addicks chief executive Peter Varney has revealed.

Eriksson will leave his post after the World Cup this summer with Curbishley among the homegrown managers tipped to take over, along with Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce.

Varney admits he wants to Curbishley to continue at The Valley - where he has been for 15 years - but also wants the Eriksson's successor to be British.

'If they do come calling we have always been consistent - at the end of the day it is Alan's decision,' said Varney.

'We passionately want Alan to stay here, we want to build this into a top-six club with a 40,000 capacity and we believe Alan Curbishley is the man to do that.

'However, it is the biggest job in football and if it is a challenge Alan wants to take up we always said we wouldn't stand in his way. That remains the situation.

'It is the biggest job in football being England manager. In some way, God help who gets it because of the intrusion into their private life, but that is a decision for the individual.

'Alan is obviously one of those candidates. He's proved over his 15 years here that he is an excellent coach. We are the only team to win and draw at Chelsea this season which perhaps speaks volumes of his tactical ability.'

Varney added: 'I think it should be English this time around. I think it's a terrible indictment on our coaching system in this country if we cannot produce an English to coach the English team. This time around we definitely have to go down that route.'

Varney wants the Football Association to appoint the next manager before the World Cup to give the newcomer the chance to go to Germany and gain valuable experience.

'What I don't think is right is if Sven leads the country into the World Cup - and let's hope he is successful - and the next person comes in right after Sven has walked out of Soho Square,' Varney told Sky Sports News.

'I think there is huge value of a manager coming in - particularly one without wide European or international experience - and shadowing Sven at the World Cup and seeing the whole organisation take place.

'They can see at first hand how the whole England structure works, because it takes another tournament to find that out. So why not give the incumbent coming in the benefit of that experience.

'So I think it is right that the FA make the appointment before the World Cup and that person actually goes with them. It's known who the candidates are. I can't see it having a dramatic effect on either England or the club the manager would leave.'